VolkerTrenchless Solutions completes last duct installation at East Anglia One

After two years, two months, two weeks and two days, the team at East Anglia One (EA1) have completed the installation of the last HDPE (high density polyethylene) duct which marks the project completion.

The installation of the final duct was the last of 147 HDPE ducts to be installed across 21 locations, reaching a total of over 50,000m of ducting at the project.

Ducts were installed along a 37km long corridor around Ipswich, enabling power cables from the EA1 and EA3 offshore windfarms to reach the onshore substation.

VolkerTrenchless Solutions delivered multiple horizontal directional drilling solutions over the different locations within the Ipswich and Felixstowe areas for Scottish Power. Specialist services included a topographical survey of all drilling locations, ground investigation, design of suitable drilling profile, calculations of duct suitability

and drilling fluid pressure calculations, temporary works designs as well as the applications to cross under Network Rail and Highways England assets.

The last duct, which was 1,050m long and 630mm in diameter, was pulled in from 700m off the coast of Suffolk.

James Worth, VolkerTrenchless Solutions Project Director, said: “An amazing effort has been made from the team, and I am immensely proud to have been able to lead this project for the last two years. Thanks to all involved in launching VolkerTrenchless Solutions and successfully delivering an extremely challenging scheme!”